How To Get Kids To Eat "New" Foods

**Shelli_wnj** · 05-06-2009, 04:15 PM

I have been trying to make more of our foods from scratch, and the kids are fighting me tooth and nail. I just don't know how to get them to eat it. It's only healthier and cheaper if they actually EAT the stuff!!! For example, I recently made muffins. They were good! LOL I know, my own cooking - but my husband tried them, too, and he said they were good. My son took one bite and said "they're not the same" and my daughter wouldn't touch them. It's the same with everything I make. I made mac'n'cheese. "it's not the same". They won't eat it. Any tips? Thanks!

**2ndGenGranola** · 05-06-2009, 04:46 PM

I have had to deal with all kinds of food allergies in my house. The very first thing I learned was to NEVER call the new food by the old foods name. Oreo subs did not have the name oreo in it. It was chocolate sandwich cookie. Peanut butter was now bean butter. Spinach dip was monster blood (the crazier and more interest specific you can get the better)...

By calling it the old name you spark the place in their brain that remembers taste, texture, smell, comfy feelings...

Instead of calling it mac and cheese call it "macaroni casserole". Instead of banana muffins call them "banana fluffy breads". Be creative. Go crazy. (write down the new names so you don't forget!)

**Shelli_wnj** · 05-06-2009, 05:06 PM

That's so easy, it just might work... :-) Now my question is this... what do you do when the child asks for the original? My kids have been begging me for McDonalds (which I just don't have the money for) and there is no way I can make the nuggets just like they do! At 3 and 5, they are starting to understand and hate the money thing - what do you mean we have to save???!!! :-)

**2ndGenGranola** · 05-06-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Shelli_wnj

Now my question is this... what do you do when the child asks for the original? My kids have been begging me for McDonalds (which I just don't have the money for)

I tell them "I'm sorry. Our family just doesn't eat that anymore" or "I can buy 1 and you can share it" or " you can pick something off of the dollar menu" or "that is something you can buy with your birthday money".

It finally hit them when I used the birthday money comment. Suddenly mom's cooking was the best. Of course, I was really bad and rented Supersize Me and had them watch it. They all turn green when they hear McNuggets now (they are 5,7,9)

**IntlMom** · 05-06-2009, 05:30 PM

I'm the resident "mean mom"......in my house, they simply don't get a choice. period. end of story.

They do get hungry eventually......believe me, they'll eat when they are hungry enough.

**IntlMom** · 05-06-2009, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

I. Of course, I was really bad and rented Supersize Me and had them watch it. They all turn green when they hear McNuggets now (they are 5,7,9)

My sons watched it with me too......they won't touch it now either!!

**Firefly7071** · 05-06-2009, 05:34 PM

"Renaming of the food" YES that totally works for me. I call fish sticks "Crispy Fish" and French Fries "Potato Wedges", etc... Crazy... but it works.

**nuisance26** · 05-06-2009, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

I'm the resident "mean mom"......in my house, they simply don't get a choice. period. end of story.

They do get hungry eventually......believe me, they'll eat when they are hungry enough.

~I wish I was more like you. Really.
My kids don't want fast food or processed food though because I've always cooked from scratch. My problem is their sensory issues(which they both are allowing to become a habit instead of an issue anymore). They'd rather have chex mix and a banana or cereal for dinner than mama's delicious homemade dinners. I could 'make' them eat what I prepare and I probably should but I hate all that conflict at mealtimes. It just make me a nervous wreck.~

**IntlMom** · 05-06-2009, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~I wish I was more like you. Really.
My kids don't want fast food or processed food though because I've always cooked from scratch. My problem is their sensory issues(which they both are allowing to become a habit instead of an issue anymore). They'd rather have chex mix and a banana or cereal for dinner than mama's delicious homemade dinners. I could 'make' them eat what I prepare and I probably should but I hate all that conflict at mealtimes. It just make me a nervous wreck.~

Actually, I get the sensory thing, as we have this in our house too.

I keep things my son will eat in the pantry/fridge at all times (malt-o-meal, cream of wheat, applesauce....you get the picture, he's a creamy, soft texture sort of kid), but when it comes to things like generic malt o meal, versus the brand name, or homemade oatmeal vs the little packets, he doesn't get a choice. I make homemade applesauce, he eats it. I work within his texture issues, but brand name, homemade vs store bought - nope, he doesn't get a choice.

Actually, we have done this forever, so quite frankly, I'm not even sure that he realizes he has a choice.

**MoonMommy** · 05-06-2009, 05:57 PM

I have picky eaters.
For the past two months we have been having "new meal Monday". I try to find a recipe or create a recipe that NONE of us has had before. Sometimes I ask the kids for help finding a recipe in my books or on-line. Then, I tell them that we are all going to be "food critics" (I had to explain that...my kids are only 3 and 7). There are a few rules. You HAVE to at least try each component of the dish before you can leave the table. If you don't finish what is on your plate, you can't have any snacks before bed. I figure, if they go to bed hungry one night a week, that isn't so bad.

It hasn't been a wonderful success, because I haven't been able to add any new dishes to the repetoir...however, they do realize now that they at least have to TRY it.

It helps that on Mondays, I don't give them snacks between lunch and dinner to try to coax them into eating. It is still frustrating for me, but it is getting a bit better and at least DH and I are having great leftovers for the rest of the week. I have been trying to make the meals using things that I know they like and avoiding stuff I know they don't like.

I like the idea of renaming stuff. I made homemade mac and cheese (check Alton Brown's on Food Network...pretty tasty) and then added ground beef. We renamed it Cheeseburger Macaroni and my son LOVED it. My daughter....not so much, but she isn't a fan of ground meat.

As for Chicken nuggets...I know it isn't from scratch, but it is still cheaper if you buy some from the store instead of getting them from McDs. My Dd loves chicken nuggets and I get a huge box of them from BJs. They are Dino nuggets.

I tried calling mashed sweet potatoes "halloween potatoes" once. It worked for one meal, but that was it. Ah well.

I know it is frustrating, but keep trying. My Dd always refuses apples, the other night she saw me eating one and wanted it. I gave it to her, without pealing it, and she ate the whole thing.

**IntlMom** · 05-06-2009, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by MoonMommy

I have picky eaters.
For the past two months we have been having "new meal Monday". I try to find a recipe or create a recipe that NONE of us has had before. Sometimes I ask the kids for help finding a recipe in my books or on-line. Then, I tell them that we are all going to be "food critics" (I had to explain that...my kids are only 3 and 7). There are a few rules. You HAVE to at least try each component of the dish before you can leave the table. If you don't finish what is on your plate, you can't have any snacks before bed. I figure, if they go to bed hungry one night a week, that isn't so bad.

Great idea!!

**Rosebush3** · 05-06-2009, 06:24 PM

Stick with it, eventually you will reprogram their taste buds.

**Missy** · 05-06-2009, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

I'm the resident "mean mom"......in my house, they simply don't get a choice. period. end of story.

They do get hungry eventually......believe me, they'll eat when they are hungry enough.

We're the same way. They don't like it? They go without. I dunno. Works here. But then again my kids are involved with about every aspect of the food, from gathering the eggs to processing (granted just a few birds so far) the chicken. My kids will beg for stuff in the store and I get some wierd looks when people see an eggplant is the object of their desire. What helps I think, is letting them get involved in it. Let them mix the batter, pour it into the muffin pan, let them stuff the chicken, or make the salad. We have a new food every grocery shopping trip. Last time was goat meat. Ahem...that's still in the freezer. I have to find a recipe that is new to us to use it for (quite frankly i am thinking chili or some greek recipe...)

**Shelli_wnj** · 05-06-2009, 06:28 PM

Thanks for the great ideas, guys! I have started the "mean mommy" thing. Your choice is eat, or go to bed hungry. My daughter is tube fed, so this isn't an issue for her. But my son gets it. He went to bed hungry once, now he at least tries his dinner. He does complain "to infinity" about it, though. I like the "new meal monday" idea. That is just great! I think my kids would have a ball flipping through the pictures in the cookbook. Maybe it would make them want to try it.I haven't seen the "supersize me" movie - maybe I should rent it for myself - I wrestle with the fast food thing, too! *blushes* I haven't had any in a while, but I had a good addiction going there for a while, and I still crave it.

I will start trying these ideas and let you know how they work for us! :-)

**Siebrie** · 05-07-2009, 05:47 AM

I was a picky eater:

Pizza? - not for me, I'd eat the crust, but not the filling
French fries? -UGH!
Fried rice? - Can I have plain rice please? I'll add some sugar, cinnamon and butter.
Chilli? - Just plain brown beans please; I'll add some treacle and I'll be fine.

My mum never cooked a separate meal for me, but she would set aside a little bit of the 'basic' ingredient for me to eat. I did not enjoy eating any of the above until I was 20, had moved out of the house and had to prepare my own meals. As students we shared a lot of meals and peer pressure had me eat what parental pressure couldn't.